i have a few questions on idioms.. what does make hay while the sun shines mean? what does on the fence mean??

Answer 1

Make hay while the sun shines means to take advantage of good times because it won't always be that way. Take care of things while you have the chance. Farmers have to have the hay cut and laid out to dry in the sun, so they need to make the hay while the sun shines -- it won't always be shining, and then it won't be easy or a good idea to be making hay later.

On the fence means you can't make up your mind about something -- you may decide one thing, or you may decide the other. For instance, I'm finished with work and my mother is in the hospital 50 miles away. I'm trying to decide whether to go see her, but I'm on the fence on that matter. I visited her yesterday and I'm tired, so part of me wants to stay home. However, she's unhappy in the hospital, so part of me wants to go see her. I'll have to do one or the other: stay home or go. But right now I'm on the fence.

Answer 2

Make hay when the sunshines means the remains of ricefields after harvest is dried in the hot sun on the tar roads if you see near fields and then tied into bundles and stored as food for the cattle through out the year. Drying of the grass into hay can be done only when there is hot sun, otherwise the whole grass is wasted if it rains in a freak manner during summer. This is a part of agricultural produce or process. This was the literal meaning of the proverb, we use it to caution people that when the time is right the right thing should be done or otherwise we may have to repent for the same. we should study when the whole peergroup is studying and work while the whole peer group is working. time once gone does not return and also may not be the same again. There are more proverbs meaning the same like "striking while the iron is hot." 'opportunity knocks only once on the door", etc.

Answer 3

"Make hay while the sun shines" means that it is best to take advantage of a situation while conditions are favorable...I guess it goes back to farming, where you would want to do your hay-making on sunny days. OK, I know the hay grows by itself and you don't really make the hay...but the farmer would want to do the weeding, harvesting, drying and storing the hay during good weather.

"Sitting on the fence" means merely not taking one side or the other in a disagreement. It can also mean that one hasn't decided on making decision. You literally would not be on either side or the disagreement or decision, but balanced on the fence between the two.

Hope this helps.